ψωροκώσταινα

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Greek

Etymology

ψωρο- (psoro-, “poor-”, from ψώρα "scabies" or "mange") +‎ Κώσταινα (Kóstaina, feminine suffix for "wife of Kώστας"), see Κωνσταντίνος (Konstantínos).
Reputedly, the nickname of a very poor woman with surname Χατζηκώστα (Chatzikósta) or Χατζηκώσταινα (Chatzikóstaina) who contributed her meagre possession at a fund during the 1820s.

Patrick Leigh Fermor likens the name to the English "Mangy Betty" (see quotation below.)

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pso.ɾoˈko.ste.na/
  • Hyphenation: ψω‧ρο‧κώ‧σται‧να

Noun

ψωροκώσταινα • (psorokóstaina) f

  1. (metonymically) Greece, an affectionate name used by Greeks of their homeland - it has intimations of poverty and affection.
    • 2005, Sofka Zinovieff, Οδός Ευρυδίκης (Eurydice Street), Athens: Dioptra, page 35:
      "Καλωσορίσατε στην Ψωροκώσταινα" μου έγραψε ένας φίλος με e-mail όταν φτάσαμε στην Αθήνα ...
      "Kalosorísate stin Psorokóstaina" mou égrapse énas fílos me e-mail ótan ftásame stin Athína ...
      "Welcome to Psorokóstaina" a friend e-mailed me when I arrived in Athens ...
    • 1958, Patrick Leigh Fermor, Mani, London: John Murray, page 208:
      But look how he [Venizelos] found Greece when he started. Do you remember what we used to call her Psorokóstaina - Mangy Betty! And look how he left her, one of the nations of the West with steady frontiers, double the size, friends with Turkey ...
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

  • The nickname as a female name, with initial capital Ψωροκώσταινα.

Declension

Declension of ψωροκώσταινα
singular plural
nominative ψωροκώσταινα • ψωροκώσταινες •
genitive ψωροκώσταινας • ψωροκώσταινων •
accusative ψωροκώσταινα • ψωροκώσταινες •
vocative ψωροκώσταινα • ψωροκώσταινες •
Usually in the singular.

Further reading

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